Community Agencies in and Around Whiteland Indiana by Heather Jenkins

1. Community Agencies in and Around Whiteland Indiana by Heather Jenkins Table of Contents Big Sisters of Central Indiana Greenwood Head Start Crisis Pregnancy Center The City of Greenwood Parks and Recreations The Nonviolent Alternatives The Julian Center United Way Girls Incorporated Southpoint Christian Church The Refuge

2. Big Sisters of Central Indiana – Johnson County • 500 Polk Avenue, Greenwood, IN 46143 • (317) 885-6482 • Monday-Friday 10:00-5:00 • mentoringismagic@bbbsci.org • http://www.bbbsci.org • Big Sisters is structured on a volunteer basis. They have everyday people to help mentor a youth in the community. The mentors are paired up between a young girl and a woman. They will offer support with school, social needs, and help with any self-esteem issues. All children are of any race are accepted into the program. The volunteers will see them on a regular basis and it is discouraged if the adult cancels the appointment. Building trust between the girl and women is very important and cannot be done if scheduled visits are not fulfilled. This is someone they see on a regular basis. The volunteer will take the child places and do things with them they would not normally able to do. Giving the child the social interaction they need. This is all about volunteers, the more they have, the more girls they can help. Companies, communities and others help by giving money and awareness to the Big Sister Club. Donation of time is most important along with money and getting the word out about the Big Sisters program.

3. Greenwood Head Start • (317) 881-0789 • Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00 • Only a phone number, under construction, no other contact info • http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/ Head Start offers a wide variety of services. Their main ideas are to help diagnose problems that children can have, including speech, learning disabilities, and hand-eye coordination. For example, they will come in and help an infant that was born premature. If a child has a speech problem or is having trouble in school, they will assist the child with educated professionals. Head Start will also assist the parents to understand what they can do to better serve their child. Head Start will come to the parent’s home and test the child. Then they will give the results to the parent’s and see what kind of assistance is needed. Head Start does offer volunteer opportunities but they must meet a lot of requirements. They receive government funding.

4. Crisis Pregnancy Center • 730 Main Street, Whiteland IN 46184 • (317) 535-6396 • Monday & Wednesday: 10a.m. to 5p.m. • Tuesday & Thursday: 10a.m. to 7p.m. • 24/7 http://www.pregnancydecisionline.org/ • info@carenetpc.org • http://www.carenetpc.org/ • The Crisis Pregnancy Center is there for anyone that has become pregnant unexpectedly. A pregnancy comes with a lot of responsibilities and a lot of planning needs to be done, including prenatal care. The center will help set this up, along with a safe place to live. They will also help these young women get all the things in place before the baby comes. They assist the girl in finding a doctor and making her appointments and getting state insurance if necessary. A lot of donations are accepted and they will help her to get formula, baby clothes, and anything else she might need. They will also set up someone for her to talk to help her deal with any issues. Some of these women do not have family support and they try to do the best job by helping her. Anything for a baby they accept, up to 2 years for baby clothes. They will also accept money for donations. The Center really relies on volunteers and community support. If one wants to volunteer they will go through a lot of education. They have a strict program.

5. The City of Greenwood Parks and Recreations • 100 Surina Way Greenwood, IN 46142 • Secretary phone 317-881-4545 • Direct phone 317-887-4263 Ext. 16 • Monday – Friday 10-5:00 • Debby Fey feyd@greenwood.in.gov • http://www.greenwood.in.gov/department/division.php/division.php?fDD=10-138 • The City of Greenwood Parks and Recreations assist anyone wanting to engage in extracurricular activities. They will help adults if they want to join a softball league, fitness programs, or volleyball. Pretty much any sport they want to do, they have it. The Park area also has many sports for children as well. For example, square dancing. They have a latch key program as well. If a child needs somewhere to go after school, they can assist. This is a great place for children to go because they are so concerned with exercise. If one wants to volunteer they are to go to a government website, which leads me to believe they receive government funding. What is really neat is the age at which one can volunteer, as young as 14. This gives a great opportunity for children to become leaders. They could help with the Easter Egg hunt, park cleanup and maintenance.

6. The Nonviolent Alternatives • Greenwood, Franklin Indiana. No address. (877)-545-7698 (Call for directions). • 24 hours. • If classes are needed, 360 South Madison Ave, Suite 201, Greenwood, IN 46142 • (317) 859-9555 • info@nonviolentalternatives.com • http://www.nonviolentalternatives.com/ • This program helps men or women that have a problem with anger or abuse. Many classes can be taken to help with any nonviolent alternative. They are able to help with marriage counseling, family counseling, and any other counseling that is needed. It is important for them to find out what the problem is and then place them in the correct program. They do not throw everyone together but place them in groups that best fit their needs. It is also important to them the person visits a class and see what they are all about. They stress educating someone verses just treating them. I did not see any volunteer opportunities nor how they help to support their organization.

7. The Julian Center • 2011N. Meridian Street • Indianapolis, In 46202 • 317-941-2200 • Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m. • Depending on what area you need the hours are different. These are administrative hours and information. • info@juliancenter.org • http://www.juliancenter.org/About-Us/Contact-Us.aspx • The Julian center supports victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and many other life crises. The will offer any counseling needed, a safe place, education, or housing. There is also access to a thrift store. They also try to help the community by making them aware of what is going on in their neighborhoods. Their mission is to reduce violence by and to anyone in the community. The Julian Center takes one time donations, or many times. It can be money, food, clothes, or anything one can use, water, toothpaste, etc. The Julian Center really does do a lot for the community. If someone has a crisis they will help you or find someone that can help you.

8. United Way Center for Human Services • 2525 North Morton Street, Franklin IN 46131 • (317)738-4636 • Monday –Friday 8:00-4:00 • uwjc@uwjc.org • http://www.uwjc.org/Our_Agencies.html • United Way has many different agencies under their umbrella. They get money from the community and give it to agencies like, American Red Cross, Little Red Door, Boys and Girls Club, and Girl Scouts. A lot of companies raise money through their jobs to give a weekly donation. They also take checks and cash. Their mission is to help one out of every three people. They want to pair people that need help with people that can help. United Way takes as many volunteers as they can. They have you fill out a paper and then send it in. Then they will place you in the corresponding agency. They work as a facilitator for volunteers and money that is donated. They pride themselves with helping as many people has they can.

9. Girls Inc. of Johnson County • 200 East Main Street, Franklin IN 46131 • (317) 736-5344 • (317) 736-0043 • Normal Business Hours: Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. • After School Hours: Monday thru Friday 2:30 -6 p.m. • Summer Camp Hours: Monday thru Friday 7-9 a.m. early bird hours 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. • amy@girlsincjc.org • http://www.girlsincjc.org/contact.html • The Girls Inc. of Johnson County is a wonderful agencies helping girls of the Johnson Country. They will help with afterschool daycare, summer camp, or what they call a “sisterhood”. The sisterhood is for girls ten and older. They work on life skills, health habits, self-esteem, career opportunities, and much more. They want to instill a sense of empowerment for all girls. They show the girls how to make crafts, have a reading circle, journaling, and many other programs for them. They offer many volunteer opportunities. They want you to fill out a form and turn it into them. One needs to do a background check as well. They have a list of companies that support them as well as a list of supplies they need if one wants to donate. The last page of their site as a list of things they currently are in need of.

10. Southpoint Christian Church • 70 West St. Whiteland IN 46184 • 317-430-4685 • Sundays at 10:30 • Brocho25@yahoo.com Charles, • http://www.southpointe-church.org/ • SouthpointChristian church is dedicated to supporting the community whenever they can. They offer help to young people by doing projects with them, keeping them busy by guiding them in the right direction. You do not have to belong to the church to obtain their help they will assist however they can. They hold movies in the park in the summer, along with a fishing tournament. They hold a ladies and men night to get people connected with God and themselves, their spouses and the community. They have offered a seminar with Dave Ramsey and others to help the community. They will take donations or volunteer help with any of their sponsored programs. Every holiday they hold some kind of function for the community to ensure they are giving back. They are supported by the members of their church. If you want to donate they will take money or support.

11. The Refuge • 65 Airport Parkway, Greenwood IN 46143 • (317) 889-7338 • The Pantry is open Tuesday 9-11 a.m. Thursday 6-8 p.m. • http://www.therefugeinc.com/content.cfm?id=150 (No email but can submit inquiry through this link) • http://www.therefugeinc.com/index.cfm • The Refuge wants to halt poverty. They seek to try and feed the hungry whenever and however they can. It also wants to make sure they give back to the community through God with physical or emotional help. They help to take in donations for a coat drive. Giving children toys for Christmas and any other time is important to them. They will take donations including money or food from anyone. Volunteers are welcomed to pass out food or any other job needed at the time, to anyone that needs it. Businesses, people that attend the church and organizations help support the Refuge by giving their time and money. Anyone can come for food, (once a month) or clothes if they live in Johnson County area. They are a really caring community that wants to help people around them.

12. Letter to Southpoint Church • 1 Kelsay Court Whiteland IN 46184 • derekandheather99@comcast.net • Mr. Charles Howard, my name is Heather Jenkins and I would like to volunteer at your Southpoint Church. I currently attend Ivy Tech and am enrolled in the Education program. I have a wonderful opportunity to volunteer for ten hours for an agency. I researched ten agencies helping the community; your church was one of them. Please let me know if I would be able to assist you with anything. I am very excited to help in any way. • Thank you, • Heather Jenkins • 317-460-2094

13. Interview with Charles Howard Pastor at Southpoint Church • 1. What is your organization's mission or purpose? Establish a Christ-centered church committed to God's mission of reconnecting people back to Himself; through teaching, living and perpetuating the timeless story of redemption in Jesus Christ. • 2. What social problem does this organization help eradicate? We try to build families closer to each other and God. Influence individuals and the community toward Jesus Christ. • 3. What do you think is the most important service of your organization? The most important service we do is to share the love of god to world. • 4. What project(s) or service(s) can students Ivy Tech create or help with for your organization? Movies in the Park and Family Fishing Derby are just two services they do for the community that students could help with. The pastor’s wife, Jenny, would like to start a clothing exchange, tutoring sessions, and art or guitar lessons. She needs a marketing plan, a strategy, or anything to help carry out their vision of any of these ideas. • 5. What information do you want your community to know about your organization? We exist beyond our walls to engage our world so that all may experience a restored relationship with God. • 6. How does this organization help families and children, especially minority families and children? There are not a lot of minority families in the Whiteland area, although they do help missionaries in Guatemala and have helped the Hispanic community in other areas. They will help anyone, in any way they can. They have a tight relationship with the elementary school in Whiteland and whenever the counselor is asked for help, she calls Southpoint Church. They have done clothing donations and a giving tree. They support everyone. There is a crisis pregnancy center they give too. Fast track organization that collects schools supplies. The pastor has partnered with United Way to work with programs to help the community.